Stapling machine



March 12, 1946. c. E. WICKENS STAPLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1944Patented Mar. 12, 1946 STAPLING MACHINE Claude E. Wickens, Brookline,Mass, assignor to The Standard Rivet Company, South Boston, Mass, acorporation of New Hampshire Application November 4, 1944, Serial No.561,867

6 Claims.

In stapling machines it is customary to have a staple guide in the formof an inclined bar which is straddled by the staples and along which thestaples slide to the delivery end of the guide where they are deliveredone by one to the stapling mechanism. Heretofore the delivery mechanismhas comprised a pivoted dog having a nose mov able to and from the pathof the staples sliding along the upper edge of the guide bar, thepivoted dog being lifted once during each stapling operation to permit astaple to slide past. This arrangement has not been satisfactory forvarious reasons. One-disadvantage of this construction consists in thatthe repeated impacts of the dog on the upper edge of the raceway tend towear a recess in the upper edge of the guide bar, thereby interferingwith the sliding movement of staples along the bar. However a moreserious difficulty consists in that when either the guide bar or thepivoted dog is removed for repair or replacement it is necessary toreadjust the mechanism for controlling the movement of the dog so thatit will lift away from the guide bar far enough to permit a staple toslide past but not far enough to permit more than one staple to slidepast. Inasmuch as this is a rather delicate adjustment it is oftennecessary to call in an expert to readjust the machine after either thedog or the guide has been replaced.

Objects of the present invention are to avoid the aforesaid difficultiesand to provide staplefeeding mechanism which is simple and economical inconstruction, which does not require readjustment when the guide isremoved for repair or replacement, which does not produce localized wearon the upper edge of the guide bar and which is more reliable anddurable in use than the prior arrangement above referred to.

The present invention involves a staple guide having a ridge which isadapted to be straddled by staples and along which the staples may slideto the delivery end of the guide, together with a stop for blocking themovement of staples along the guide and means supporting the stop formovement toward and from the ridge between blocking position and aretracted position in which the staples may slide past, characterized inthat the supporting means is mounted on the guide so that it isremovable with the guide. Thus removal of the guide does not disturb thenormal relationship between the guide and stop. Consequently when aguide is replaced no adjustment is necessary when the new guide isapplied to the machine.

While. the aforesaid ridge may be formed in various ways; preferably itmerely comprises the upper edge of a flat bar, the upper edge beingrounded in cross-section. To assist in retaining the staples in positionrelatively to each other as they progress down the guide, a cover mayextend along the guide in spaced relation to the ridge, in which casethe aforesaid movable stop is preferably mounted on the cover. While thestop may be movably mounted in any suitable manner it is preferablymounted pivotally. Moreover it is preferably arranged so that while itmay move into sufficiently close juxtaposition to the guide ridge toblock the staples, it does not actually touch the guide, even in theabsence of staples, thereby avoiding wear on the guide. Preferably thedevice comprises a second stop mounted for movement between an upperposition in which it projects above the ridge to block the staples and alower position in which the staples may slide past, the second stopbeing located beyond the first stop a distance approximately equal tothe width of a staple so that when the first stop moves to its upperposition the staples on the guide advance against the second stop. Inthe preferred embodiment the second stop comprises a plunger sliding ina socket which extends through the guide from bottom to top and a springin the socket for holding the stop in its lower position.

In a still more specific aspect of the invention the first stop overlapsthe second stop so that when the second stop is moved to its upperposition it pushes the first stop to its upper position, permitting theforemost staple to pass from the first stop to the second stop, incombination with a spring for returning the first stop to its lowerposition when the second stop returns to its lower position. Byarranging the second stop to be actuated by a movable partof thestapling mechanism, both stops are actuated in synchronism once duringeach stapling operation, a staple moving from the first stopto thesecond stop as the two stops are lifted and the staple then passing tothe stapling mechanism when the stops return to their lower positions.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof a stapling machine of well-known type showing the head in retractedposition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the stapling head with theparts in advanced position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the staple guide and feeding mechanism;

Fig. l is a side view of this mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a part of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in retractedposition.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose ofillustration comprises a machine of well-known type including a base i,a frame 2, and anvil 3 mounted on the frame, a head 4 movable up anddown in guides 6 and 7 on the frame, a staple driver 8 reciprocating upand down in the guideway 9 in the head, the usual mechanism includingpivoted arm 5 for actuating the movable parts, staple-feeding mechanismconstructed according to the present invention, and a hopper i i forsupplying staples to the staple-feeding mechanism. The arm 5 acts onhead i through a spring l5, the head and driver 8 moving down togetheruntil the head is stoppped by the anvil 3 and the driver 8 thencontinuing downwardly to drive the staple. On the reverse movement thehead is lifted by springs I until a shoulder on the head engages guide7. The spring i is stronger than the springs it] so that it overcomesthe resistance of the lifting springs in the downward movement.

The staple-feeding mechanism comprises a guide bar 82 having theconfiguration shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a cover i3 mounted over the guide12 to retain staples on the guide, and the first and second stops it andii. The cover i3 is mounted on the guide l2 by means of three bracketsEl, 22 and 23 which are welded or otherwise secured to the cover andwhich are mounted on the side of the guide [2 by means of screws 26 andpilot pins 27.

The stop it comprises an arm pivotally mounted at 26 in a recess in thedelivery end of the cover it, this recess being open at the bottom andclosed at the top and sides so that the arm can swing in a clockwisedirection but is limited in its counterclockwise movement by the tailend of the arm striking the ceiling of the recess. Mounted in the freeend of the arm is a pin 27 which projects somewhat below the arm toengage the foremost staple as shown in Fig. '7. The arm is yieldinglyheld in this position by means of a leaf spring 28 mounted on the upperend of the bracket 25. The second stop l'l comprises a plunger slidingvertically in a socket in the delivery end of the guide l2. The plungeris yieldingly held in its lower position by means of a spring 2d, theupper end of the spring seating against the upper end of the socket andthe lower end of the spring seating against a collar fast to theplunger. In the lower position of the plunger shown in Fig. 7 its lowerend projects below the socket but its upper end does not project beyondthe ridge formed by the upper edge of the guide l2,

The vertically reciprocating head 4 is provided with a shoulder 38 whichengages the lower end of the plunger I! as the head 4 rises after astapling operation. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7 the stop it overhangs theplunger I! so that the plunger lifts the arm iii to the position shownin Fig. 2, thereby permitting the staples to slide down against theupper end of the plunger 11. As the head t descends at the beginning ofthe next stapling operation the two stops are permitted to return totheir lower positions in response to the springs 28 and 29. As the twostops aseasse descend'together the pin 21 on the arm [6 first seats onthe second staple of the row, the foremost staple still being retainedby the upper end of the plunger IT. This engagement of the pin 21 withthe second staple arrests the downward movement of the arm IE but theplunger I! continues to descend until it is completely retracted intoits socket, whereupon the foremost staple is free to slide into theguideway 9 in the path of the driver 8. After the driver has insertedthe staple the head 4 rises to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thuscompleting the cycle of operation.

From the foregoing it will be evident that both stops l6 and I! areremovable with the guide I2 and cover is as a unit. Thus the positionsof the stops relatively to the guide may be accurately established atthe factory where the machine is manufactured, and when the user hasoccasion to replace the guide he does not need to call in an expert toadjust the relative positions of the stops after the replacement hasbeen effected. Inasmuch as there are no adjustable parts on themechanism the relative positions of the parts cannot be tampered with.Owing to the simplicity of construction the guide unit can bemanufactured at low cost, and at small expense the user can keep one ormore extra guides in stock. Thus in case of accidental breakage theentire unit may be quickly replaced merely by removing the two screwswhich extend through the openings 32 and 33 to hold the unit on themachine.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine, a staple guide for supporting staples andguiding them along a predetermined path, the guide having a ridge whichis adapted to be straddled by staples and along which the staples mayslide to the delivery end of the guide, a stop mounted for movementbetween a lower position in which it is juxtaposed to the ridge to blockthe staples and an upper position in which staples may slide past, and asecond stop mounted for movement between an upper position in which itprojects above the ridge to block the staples and a lower position inwhich staples may slide past, the second stop being located beyond thefirst stop a distance approximately equal to the width of a staple sothat when the first stop moves to its upper position the staples on theguide advance against the second stop, both of the stops being mountedon the guide so that they are removable with the guide, whereby removalof the guide does not disturb the normal relationship between the guideand stop. I

2. In a stapling machine, a staple guide for supporting staples andguiding them along a predetermined path, the guide having a ridge whichis adapted to be straddled by staples and along which the staples mayslide to the delivery end of the guide, a stop mounted for movementbetween a lower position in which it is juxtaposed to the ridge to blockthe staples and an upper position in which staples may slide past, and asecond stop mounted for movement between an upper position in which itprojects above the ridge to block the staples and a lower position inwhich staples may slide past, the second stop being located beyond thefirst stop a distance approximately equal to the width of a staple sothat when the first stop moves to its upper position the staples on theguide advance against the second stop, the second stop comprising aplunger sliding in a socket which extends through the guide from bottomto top and a spring in the socket for holding the stop in its lowerposition, both of the stops being mounted on the guide so that they areremovable with the guide, whereby removal of the guide does not disturbthe normal relationship between the guide and stops.

3. In a stapling machine, a staple guide for supporting staples andguiding them along a predetermined path, the guide having a ridge whichi adapted to be straddled by staples and along whichthe staples mayslide to the delivery end of the guide, a stop mounted for movementbetween a lower position in which it is juxtaposed to the ridge to blockthe staples and an upper position in which staples may slide past, asecond stop mounted for movement between an upper position in which itprojects above the ridge to block the staples and a lower position inwhich staples may slide past, the second stop being 16- cated beyond thefirst stop a distance approximately equal to the Width of a staple sothat when the first stop moves to its upper position the staples on theguide advance against the second stop, a cover extending along the guidein spaced relation to the ridge, and means for mounting the cover on theguide, said first stop being mounted on the cover and said second stopbeing mounted directly on the guide, whereby removal of the guide doesnot disturb the normal relationship between the guide and stops.

4. In a stapling machine, a staple guide for supporting staples andguiding them along a predetermined path, the guide having a ridge whichis adapted to be straddled by staples and along which the staples mayslide to the delivery end of the guide, a stop mounted for movementbetween a lower position in which it is juxtaposed to the ridge to blockthe staples and an upper position in which staples may slide past, asec-- ond stop mounted for movement between an upper position in whichit projects above the ridge to block th staples and a lower position inwhich staples may slide past, the second stop being located beyond thefirst stop a distance approximately equal to the width of a staple sothat when the first stop moves to its upper position the staples on theguide advance against the second stop, the first stop overlapping thesecond stop so that when the second stop is moved to its upper positionit pushes the first stop to its upper position, permitting the foremoststaple to pass from the first stop to the second stop, and a spring forreturning the first stop to its lower position when the second stopreturns to its lower position, and both of the stops being mounted onthe guide so that they are removable with the guide, whereby removal ofthe guide does not disturb the normal relationship between the guide andstops.

5. In a stapling machine, a staple guide for supporting staples andguiding them along a predetermined path, the guide having a ridge whichis adapted to be straddled by staples and alon which the staples mayslide to the delivery end of the guide, a stop mounted for movementbetween a lower position in which it is juxtaposed to the ridge to blockthe staples and an upper position in which staples may slide past, and asecond stop mounted for movement between an upper position in which itprojects above the ridge to block the staples and a lower position inwhich staples may slide past, the second stop being located beyond thefirst stop a distance approximately equal to the width of a staple sothat when the first stop moves to its upper position the staples on theguide advance against the second stop, the second stop comprising aplunger sliding in a socket which extends through the guide from bottomto top and a spring in the socket for holding the stop in its lowerposition, the first stop overlapping the second stop so that when thesecond stop is moved to its upper position it pushes the first stop toits upper position, permitting the foremost staple to pass from thefirst stop to the second stop, and a spring for returning the first stopto its lower position when the second stop returns to its lowerposition, and both of the stops being mounted on the guide so that theyare removable with the guide. whereby removal of the guide does notdisturb the normal relationship between the guide and stops.

6. In a stapling machine, a staple guide for supporting staples andguiding them along a predetermined path, the guide having a ridge whichis adapted to be straddled by staples and along which the staple mayslide to the delivery end of the guide, a stop mounted for movementbetween a lower position in which it is juxtaposed to the ridge to blockthe staples and an upper position in which staples may slide past, asecond stop mounted fo movement between an upper position in which itprojects above the ridge to r block the staples and a lower position inwhich staples may slide past, the second stop being located beyond thefirst stop a distance approximately equal to the Width of a staple sothat when the first stop moves to its upper position the taples on theguide advance against the second stop, the first stop overlapping thesecond stop so that when the second stop is moved to its upper positionit pushes the first stop to its upper position, permitting the foremoststaple to pass from the first stop to the second stop, and a spring foreturning the first stop to its lower position when the second stopreturns to its lower position, a cover extending along the guide inspaced relation to the ridge, and means for mounting the cover on theguide, said first stop being mounted on the cover and said second stopbeing mounted directly on the guide, whereby removal of the guide doesnot disturb the normal relationship between the guide and stops.

C. E. WICKENS.

